Centrifugal amalgamator and concentrator



1927' F. D. LEWIS CENTRIFUGAL AMALGAMATOR AND CONCENTRATOR Filed March e, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR April 5',

F. D. LEWIS CENTRIFUGAL AMALGAMATOR AND CONCENTRATOR 1925' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L INVENTOR Filed March 6 April 5. 1927.

ED. LEWIS CENTRiFUGAL AMALGAMATOR'AND CONCENTRATOR Filed March 6, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 INVENTOR a? 5? ATTORNEY lIlllllll val/1%? u Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

not under pressure, thus a very high degree it so desired. 7 J

Fifth: To provide a centrifugal anialga-' UNHTEE S'E'PAT IEE rarest *Q a FRANK nf inwis, or DENVER, cononAno.

CENTRIFUGAL AIVIALGAMATOR AND CONCENTRATOR.

Application filed; March e, 1925. Serial No. 13,482.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for. the. amalgamation of gold, and the concentration of other minerals.

The objects of my. invention are: r 7

First: To provide a practical and'economical centrifugal amalgamator and concentrator, for the recovery by amalgamation, employing mercury, gold 111 all its forms subject to amalgamation, such as nuggets,-

shot gold, flour gold, and microscopic gold, from any and all gold bearing materials,

such as free gold ore pulp, roasted ore pulp,

and placer sands or gravel.

.Second: To provide a practical and economical centrifugal amalgamator and con-.

centrator for the recovery by concentration,

platinum, rusty gold not subject to amalgamation, gold coated with other minerals not subject to amalgamation, gold coated with oil orauy other substance which may interiere with its affinity for mercury, iron, and

allother minerals subject to concentration.

Third 5 T 0 provide a centrifugal amalgamator and concentrator that will accomplish both amalgamation and concentration etliciently at the same time or'at one operation, employing the same power, water and labor. i I

Fourth: To-provide a centrifugal amalgamator; and concentrator in which centrifugal.

of extraction is attained in the form of forced amalgamation and forced concentration,cand the concentration may be selective mator and concentrator so constructed as to minimize the loss of mercury in the form of floured'niercui'y or otherwise.

A Sixth: To provide a centrifugal amalganiator and concentrator so constructed as to have an unlimitednumber of adjustments at all points of congestion, thus controlling the time element of the product under treatment, also controlling the flow ofconcentratesh V 7 I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingudrawings in which: o I

Figure'l is a sectional elevation ofa centrifugal amalganiatoi and concentrator embodying my-i i'vention, Figure 2 1s a plan view of theisame'.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the machine on line of Figure 1 looking down into the machine from its top.

Figure et is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4i l of Figure'l. c

Figure?) is a top plan View of the bottom plate of the rotatable her of the machine. a

Figure '(iis a vvertical sectional view. of the same on the line 66 of Figure 5. v

Figure. 7 isa vertical sectional view of the outside member of a two-partrotatable gold savingmemberl a V r Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of the other or inside member which: isreniovably connected to the member shown in Figure 7. p 1

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional View of gold saving ,mem-

the adjustable ring-like member which controls the discharge of the concentrates from the upper endof the outside member of the, rotatable element. l

Figure 10 is a bottom plan-"view of Figf Figure 11 is an elevation partlyin section of one of the hollow bolts, throughwhich mercury is introduced to the V uppermost mercury-receiv ng pocket. 1

Figure'lQ is a vertical sectional view.-- -G 1l21,1g8dtl1IO11gl1 a portion of the upper end of the rotatable element of the ma-' chine showing'more clearly the, manner of controllingthe discharge of the concentrates from the cylinder.

Figure 13 isasectional view of a portion of the bottom plate of the cylinder 3, taken on the line1813 of Figure 5, and M Figure 14 is a sectional view of a portion of the upper end of the machine, taken on the line 1414: of Figure2 and showing the manner of adjusting the-ring-likewatr box in the upper end of tlieumachine.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view showf,

ing the manner of feeding ore and water to the inlet pipe at the upper end of the ma; chine, and i l I Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a portion of' the upper endf the machine, showing a modification in the outermost concentratmg and amalgamating cylinder.

I one hundred cubic yards of placer dirt per Similar letters of reference refer to similar views through the several views.

The apparatus can be made in different sizes to treat from about one hundred to a thousand or more cubic yards of placer'dirt each working day.

V V I preferably illustrate, however, a machine that is about four feet in height by about two feet indiameter which will treat about The apparatus consists of .a stationary base plate or'foundation member 1, and a stationary body member" 2, which rests .on

the base plate 1, and extends upward from it about one-half of the height of the machine, and a gold saving member 8 which is rotatably} mounted on and supported by thejfixed body member 2, and is also secured to an axial hollow shaft 4 that is rotatably ,niounted upon the base plate 1, and also a fixed spider'5 that is arranged to support ,the upper end 4 of the hollow shaft 4, of

the gold saving rotating member 3. This hollow shaft 4; feeding the placer dirt to the Qro'tating gold saving member as will be presently described. These" four memhere, the base plate 1 and the stationary body member 2 and the gold saving rotating member endand the spider 5 are all bolted together in operative relation .by bolts 6,

whichiextend through apertures 6 in the outside edge of the base plate 1 andthrough of the width of the base plate, and near one endthereof it is provided with a raised boss 1 in which arecess 7 is formed, and aball bearing bed plate 8'is inserted in the recess 7 The bed plate. Sis. provided with a ball apertures 5 in the outervends of the spider arms and through tubes 6 and through pipe fitting T members 3 on opposite sides of the gold saving member 3. Thls base plate' 1' is rectangular in form being practically fiatand thin-relative to its size. I Centrally raceway in which a cir curnferential row of steel balls lOare seated anda top plate 11,

which is preferably of a similar size is also provided with a ball race 12 in its under side which fits down overand against the' balls in the ball race 9 of the plate 8iand V together they form a ball'bearing 13.

A;flat flange which formsa part of a hub rests on top of the plate 11, and the hub extends loosely down through aper tures'lti and 17 formed through the centers of the two ball-bearing plates Sand 11, while theupper-end ofthe hub 15 projects above the-plate 11 and is threaded and it;

7 screws intothe lower end of the hollow steel s'haft4. r g

The bolts 6, of which there are four,

placed atequal distances apart around the machine are preferably extended up from the bottom' of the base plate 1. Consequently the heads of the bolts rest against the bottom side of the base plate and their threaded ends extend loosely up through lugs .6 formed on the ends of the spider arms 5, and nuts 6 are screwed down against the surface of thelugs tight enough to clamp all of the main parts of the machine rigidly together.

l he tubes 6 -that surround the bolts 6. are each made in two sections and the lower end of the lower section, of each of these tubes rests against the top surface of the bed plate 1, and their upper endsare threaded and screw into the lower ends of the Ts 8 through which the bolts 6 extend and are positioned at about athird of the length of the bolts 6 from their upper ends.-

The sccondsection of each of the tubes 6 that surround the bolts 6 have their lower ends threaded and screw into the upper end of the Ts 3 and their upper ends extend up'to and bear against the under side of the lugs 6 'of the spider arms 5'.

The stationary body 2 is a hollow cylindrical housing, and its cap portion 15 is made independent of it. and is 'removably bolted to it by bolts 16 that extend through their flanges 2 and 17* respectively This cap 15 is made separate from the body 2,

in order that gears 17 and 18,'which are mounted on shafts within this housing 2,

can be placed in their relative operative positions as well as the ball bearing on the top of the base plate and also that the lower end of the hollowshaft and its hub can be correctly-- positioned when the machine is assembled and at the same time to allow this cap to be. easily and quickly removed, when repairs or new parts are needed within this housing 2. i

A shaft 19, extendsthrougha bearing 20, formed on oneside of the' housing 2, into the housing far enough to receive a collar 21,.

and a pinion gear 18, which is secured to its inner end, and a gear 17 is rigidly mounted on the hollow rotatingshaft 4c in a position to mesh with the pinion and be rotatably driven by it. 7 v

The shaft 19 extends away from the bear- 7 ing 20. of the housing 2, and is journaled in a bearing 22, that is formed 'on a standard tersf'abearing aperture 26 in the "axial center ofthe spider 5, and a'depending packing box 5 is formed on the spider 6011081113110 with the aperture 26. Thepacking box is ill I ing, and this is accomplished by means of externally threaded to receive'a cap 5 WhlCh bears against a gland 5 which is inserted in the box. The upper end of the cap 15 of the housing 2 is flat and a ball'bearing plate 27 is mounted loosely-on the hollow shaft and rests on top of the upper end ofthe cap and it is provided with a ball raceway 28 and acircumferential row of balls-29 and a top plate 30, which is provided with a ball raceway 31 set on top of the circumferential row of balls 29'. A large circularcast-- ing '32 sets ontop of the upper plate 30 of this ball-bearing audit is provided with an axial aperture 33 through which the shaft t passes. :Upon the upper plate 30 of the ball bearing rests adivided octagonal collar 3e having a substantially square aperture the. corners of which are rounded to fit'the shaft-1 while the four straight edges of the aperture are adapted tofit int-o correspondmg grooves or recesses 37in the periphery of theshaft. The two halves of the collar 34 are held together in the recesses 37 by cap screws 36 which enter counterhored holes in the said halves, and'are' screwed into the shaft. This collar sets; loosely into a corre spohdingrecessBS, that is formed in the under side of the hub portion 39, of the bot tom casting '32, and inassembling these parts the two halves of the divided collar are first placed in the recesses inthe shaft and are secured there by the cap screws and thenthe bottom casting is placed down over the d vided collar and when the bottom casting is down overthe coll ar the' collars cannot get out of the recess in the bottom castingas the hollowshaft is rotated by the power rotated gears it rotates 'the collarand the collar rotates the bottonrcasting, and in doing this the collar does not depend on the cap screws tohold it onto thehollow shaft as it fits snugly-in the recess in thehub: of the bottom casting and cannot get out of it.

' The function of this collar is to positively rotate the casting 32, bythe hollow shaft at the point where it rests onth-e ball bearthe square collar being first secured to *the shaft on its flat squared sides by the screws, and then being extended into the square recess in the bottom of the hub 39, of the bottom casting 82, then when the hollow shaft is rotated, it rotates the square collar and the square ccllar'rctates the bottom casting.

secured to flat places L3, formed onfthe hollow shaft by screws as in the'case of the A similar but octagonal shaped collar a0,- ;is seated in-an=octagonalshaped recess formed in'the hub 41, ofthe top cap casting 42, of the goldsavin z cylinder 3, and it is tom 32 and the cap- 42and casing af -form" I the completecylindersb .1 I

The casting 32,-that restson and rotates on-the ball bearing 30,;f011113tl10 bottom member of my gold saving. cylinder and it is provided with a circular depression 78" which issemi-circularin cross section that forms a mercury holding: pocket Thispocket is only af-ewinches deep in alma- -chine: of this. si zey'but it communicates -with a much larger chamber above it aswill be'x presently explained; IThis=botto1n casting is provided-with a projectingflange at its upper edge, whiclr is bolted to a "similarflange, that projects fromthe bottom ofa' cylinder 45, which is in the form ofa sleeveshaped casting 'thatis' about fifteen inches in diameter and is about eleven and a halt inches'high, which at its upper end is bolted to the cap casting of the cylinderby bolts .41 The interior surface of this sleevccasting is providedwith a serics of 'specialfrecesses and plain surfaces of preferably yequal widths throughout. most of its'height," and:

they extend :all around I the interior of the i sleeve.- V A launder 49* tion of the casing 45, and comprises 'inrier and outer concentric walls 48 and 4l9*rc-; spectively and; a bottom member-which inclines downwardly from the inner wall; This launder has fourdepending ears 108 which are bolted to the pipes 58 by bolts 109. The cap 42 is provided with a depend surrounds the upper por ing cylindrical wall -47 which extends-into the launder 49 to-witl1in a" short distance of; the said inclined bottom thereof; By

this arrangement,; the concentrateswhich discharge by centrifugal-force from the up per endof thecasing 45, together withanymercury and gold which may flis'char'gie with them are caught: by the depending wall 47 and deflected into the launder 49*,"the

mercury and gold settling to the-lowest point ofthelaunder while the. concentrates dischargethrough a spout 51, having a fiang'e'54 provided with a projectinglun 53 which fits ina hole 52inthe outefwallof the launder, the-spout registeringuvith an outlet opening in the said outer wall. A

'portion 55' of the spout flange extendsinto' the outlet opening in the launder anden b the launder, as shown.

(rages the 'innerface ofthe' outer'wall of y i vaudits lower end is-seated in a counterbore ,The pipe fittingB Y through which the bolts 6 7 pass are each provided with'two threaded openings'56 and 57 which are arfranged at rightangles, and pipe sections 58 having threaded ends are screw-ed into opposite openings and thus form a square frame around the machine which braces the said bolts-and prevents them from spread- A sleeve 59,. surrounds the hollow shaft,

1 60,;forme'd in thetop of the hub portion 39 of the casting-32, through which the hollow shaft extends and this sleeve 59, eX-

tends up to the underside ofthe upper collar that-is inserted in the cap 42, and is secured to the hollow shaft.

Y-Bet-ween this sleeve '59, and the inside circumferential surface of the casing'61,'there I is a'circumferential space 62, that completely surrounds the sleeve. 59, and this clrcular space forms a placer dirtreceiving chamber except, a narrow passageway63, between the sleeve, and af'flange 6%,and the placerpulp which is the placer sand and gravel and water enough to make a flowing. stream is circulated by rapid rotationand centrifugal action throughout thecylind-er and-escapes from the cylinder through the passage 63,

gan'dthrough a circular row of holes 64, that are'formed in'the bottom casting and through tubes 65, that are threaded lat their npperendsinto the holes .644 and into a r 1' The 'placer dirt tubes 65 chamber, 770 from; which it discharges througha spout 66. r. 3 V a convey the placer dirt past a horizontally positioned stationar-yplate 67, that is secured to the upper endf'of a'circular ring '68, theplatexbeing 69,'that projects up around the lower end portions of" the tubes"; The ringc68 forms a chamber 70, the bottom of which is formedv by the conical portion of the cap 15, and from, the chamber 70 "the dirt discharges provided witha projecting annular flange through the spout 66, the innerend of which 1 is; threaded into a hole 71, that is formed throng-b the ring 68. An annular mercury catching space 72 is form-ed in the chamber 70 below the *plane of the discharge and spout, between the conical portion of the 'capfand' the ring- 68,which is adapted to catchJ-any mercury that may escape out of the'pocketsin the bot-tom casting 32, and out of the gold saving rotating cylinders. r

The space betweenthe sleeve 59' and the inner'fluted surface 73, of the rotating gold Y lapping joint76, at the upper end of the ring 61, which surrounds the sleeve 59 that" saving'cylinder 45 contains a doublering member, which is made of two castings 61 and 7 5 that arese'cured together by an overfits around the hollow shaft 4, and the inside and outside members '61 V and 75 of this double ring are, positioned at about equal distances from the sleeve 59, and the fluted surface 73 of the cylinder 45 with which they rotate.

The lower end of the member 61 is provided with a horizontal flange 77 that projects toward the member 75, and partly over the circular mercury holding pocket '78 in the casting 32. The flange 77 has a circular boss which is. seated in a circular recess 79 formed in the casting 32, and its circumferential edge terminates in a lip which lies close to the inner surface of a vertical, ada} justable amalgamating cylinder 80.

The nside surface 81, of the out-er members 75 is provided throughout the greater part of its height, with annular mercury holding grooves 82. An additional mercury holding element 83 surrounds the upper end of the member 61, andis in the form of a circular pocket V-shaped in cross section, and mercury is supplied to it through tubular bolts 84 which are screwed through threaded holes in the cap 42, and through the bottom of a water box, to belater described, and into a hole in the horizontal port1on-7rof the member 75, which holes communicate with the pocket 83. The holes I through the bolts 84, are normally closed by screws 85, which are screwed into the heads of said bolts, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A slight space is left between the rim of tl pocket 83 and the horizontal portion 74 of the member 7 5, andthe pocket rests on the heads of cap screws 86 which are screwed i into the member 61.

"The lower end of the amalgamating cylinder 80, extends into an annular recess 87, that isformed in'the bottom of the mercury pocket 78, of the bottom casting 32, and its top end extends to within a short distance of the under side ofthe top cross portion 74,

of the out-erfmember 75, and it is adjusted vertically by long cap screws 89, that are threaded up through the bottom of the mercury pocketcasting 32, and, extend up against and are secured to a shorthorizontal plate portion 90, by cap screws 91. The

. circumferential edge of this horizontal plate portion 90, of the vertical amalgamation plate 80, projectsupward to about even with the top edge of the bottom mercury holding casting 32, and close enough to it wto leave only a narrow passageway between its outer end and the mercury pocket for-the mercury pocket in which it nests. This arrangement allows me to divide the mercury pocket 78, into two divisions asshown, and the mercury in the inner compartment of it will ,more upward under the action of the rotary movement of the cylinder past the endz'S of the upwardly turned end of the flange 77, and into the mercury cells of the cylinder '80, while the mercury in the outer compart-' ment of the pock t will move up past t e upturned edge 90, of the flange 90, alongside; and in contact with the mercury cells aide surface of the cylinder 15.

Vvhen t is desired to have the mercury in the whole area of the pocket the cap screws i 89 are turned to raise the lower edge of the plate out of the slot in the bottom of the pocket, thenthe mercury occupies the full width of the bottom ofthe pocket.

he placer. dirt in is screened through preferably about one quarter of an inch mesh (screen andis fed througl'i a chute D into a hopper E, where it mixes with water from-a pipe C5 the lower end of said hopper fitting .in the upper end of the pipe 92, and the placerpulp flows through the hopper down into the hollow shaft l, which fills full gravel and sand up to radial pipes that form nozzles 93, of which there are preferably four which are passed through a the flange 67, and are threadedin the sleeve pulp. v v u i v A portion of the water that flows into the their outlet 96, by means of an adjustable 59, an d also. in the shell of the hollow shaft Jet, to its interior and they discharge the placer gravel and sand from elbows 94, into the space 95 between the flange 61, and the an'ialgaination platetiO the flow of the placer [dirt from them being aided by the suction caused by the centrifugal force and the roe tary motion of the cylinder which is rotated at fronr about one hundred to about four hundred and fifty revolutions per minute, depending on the character ofthe placer cylinder with the. placer dirt is utilized to assist in carrying the concentrates through ring 97, which is constructed as follows:

The concentrates which may be ofiron and other metals and occasionally a few globules of mercury flow through the space f89,between the upper end of the outside casing of the rotating cylinder '3, and the ring'97,'that hasflanges 99, and 100, pro- "jectin'g therefrom. The upper flange 99, lies in a recess'fo'rmed in the under side of the cap 4-2 andis adjustably secured therein by cap screws 101; that are threaded into the lower encs oflarger cap screws 102, that are screwed into the said cap, and by turning these large cap screws in the cap 42 vertical adjustment of the ring 97 is effected.

Theother flange 100, extends'to the upper end port-ion of the casing 45, which is con tracted lntliameter at this polnt to form an annular lip 103 beyond which the remaining surface is outwardly flared. The flangelOO has a beveled edge which extends to within a slight distance of the lip 103,- and adjust- I ment of the ring 9? increases or diminishes the space between the lip 103 and the flange 100, thereby regulating the flow of concentrates between them. The concentratesafter passing through the opening between. these points, flow through the tapering slot 96,

between the cap 42, and the top of the casn'ig from which they run 'downvinto the launder 49 flowing against the, inside of the depending flange 47, of the cap 42,-

and between it and the inner side 48,01: the launder, to its bottom and outof it through the concentrates discharge spout 51, while the mercury, should there be any, is trapped in the recess just below the lower edge of the dischargespout. 4 i

V The water box 104:, is a ring shaped trough and is arranged to be raised and loweredin a ring shaped recess that is formed between a vertical inner side surface of the ring 97, and a vertical surface 105, formed-oni the axial hub portion of the cap 12,,and it. is

raised and lowered its supporting ring,

shaped recess by cap screws 84?, that are threaded down through theicaplQ, and extend to the inside surface of the watenbox 104:, and are securedto its bottom ibycap screws 8e see Figure 1a, that extend loosely up through the bottom of the water box and are threaded into, it.

qlhis water box is provided with a circu:

lar row of water inlet apertures 106, which.

are placed in itsinner circumferential flange and they are positioned to admit 'waterto; t close to its bottom, and this water flows out of this water. box through a] circumferential 'row' of somewhat smaller apertures 107 that are formed through the body pornw' ortions L and the underside ofthe n p 7 a cap, onthe cap screws 4st. 7

-. Theconcentrates flow from the passage at 98 through the space 96, at the top or the upper edge of the rotating cylinder and then drop down into theflaunder 49c, and

flow out of the spout 51 and the launder is provided below thebottomf of its mercurycatching pocket with four depending ears 108, that are bolted to the horizontal pipes 58, by bolts 109, that extend through the flange and the pipes. While it ,is notexpec'ted that there will be mercury globules in the concentratesyet a few may be carried 115 V desired by. adding thin washers between its;

over during continuous running between the time of shutting down, and cleaning up tl1e hm'algainating plates, and they w ll run nto and be caught in the pocket 55, in the bottom of the-launder below the lower edge of the discharge, spout.

' F irst: The circular trough or pocket 78, of

the bottom casting are filled with mercury;

then the desired rotative movement is given to the amalgamating cylinder, and thenthe I placer gravel and sand which have, been given a screening treatment by a mechanism 'whiclrI do not illustrate, but which may consist of either a grizzly or a wire screen-.

. ing apparatus'or both, in which they are re duced to a'product of about from one eighth to a quarter of an inch meslndepending on the character'of the placer deposit, and they are'then conveyed into a hopper E, together with a supply of water that is su'lficientin h fivol'ume, when mixed with the sand and gravest this mesh, to form an easily and quickly ,flowing placerpulp stream, which discharges from the bottom of the hopper,

1 which,

fitsinto the end of a short pipe 92,

which is screwe'dintoan aperture 11.0, that 1 is formed in the axialcenter of: the top ot the spider'5', and the material then flows down through this apertureand into the hollow shaft which it fills up full permanently with the sand and gravel level with the pipes 93, through which it -runs'1ntothe amalgamating cylinder '80. The now thoroughlymixed material flow upward 1n this cylinder 80 111 the direction of the arrowF. and in contact 'Witlr'its mercury holding grooves 81 and over the top of it, andjdown intorthe space "1'12'between it and (the member 75,Iinthe direction of the arrow G, andin contact with the mercury holding grooves 113, in

this member 75, and then around the lower 7 Q11Ct0f'lil16 member 75, and upward between the outside. of this flan 'e and the inside surfaces, of the outside casing 15, otthe rotating'cylinder 3, in the direction of the "arrow-H, and injcontact with its numerous] mercuryholding grooves73, and the confcent'rates flow through the space 98, between (the upper end of the casing't5, and the vertically adjusting ring 97, and then' tln-ough the space 96,at the top of the casing 45, of

out of the spout'5l, while the mixed tailings the'rotati'ng cylinder and the'under side of the cap 412, and then into the launder and waterfandjsandand gravel flow around the top of a short vertical flange 114, that projects from the flange 88, and follows the passage'115; between the top of this flange {114, and the bottom of the water box 10st, land theiraround the corner of the flange 74,

down into the outlet passageway 62, in the y direetloirof the arrow I. and between the outsideisurtace of, the flange 61, and'the' adjacent sleeve 59, that surrounds closelylthehollow shal't e, and through the apertures in the bottom casting andinto and through the tubes 65, of which'th'ere are ten, which connect with the 'tencored holes 64 in the bottom casting the rotating amalgamating and'concentrates forming cylinder 3, and

from the ten tubes 65, the edge 116. of each of which forms an orifice point that turns 7 water boxthrough the numerous inlet holes 7 106, by the suction oi the centrifugal 'force on the rapidly rotating cylinder 3, and keeps it full and also carries it'with enough force toflow out of the water box through the circular row of small holes 107, in the vertically adjustable ring 97 and it 'dis charges from it intothe space 118, above and helps force t-heconcentrates that flow into this slot through the slot 96, over the top or the outside casing oftherotating cylinder into thelaunder 49 and out of it through the spout 51, as above described.

The mercury holding recess 78, in the bottom casting s filled with mercury through the apertures 119, of which there are preferably two, which are placed on the opposite sides of the bottom casting, as I have found that the mercury can be better balanced if" it is entered in'equal amounts from-opposite sides of the pockets. lVhen the cylinderis rotating at the speed best adapted to separate the gold and silver metals from the placer sand and gravel, the mercury travels by means of centrifugal action up the mercury holding cell provided inside surface S, of the s outside casing of the cylinder into its cell 7 3, which it fills, and down the inside surface of the cylindrical member 75, and fills its cells full of mercury, and also up the inside surface oi the an'ialgamatingcylinder 80, and fills its cells full of mercury. The fmercury holding ring shaped pocket surrounding the upper end or the member 61, which is filled with mercurythrough the tube 84,,dise charges its mercury through a. narrow space 120, between its top edge, and the under side of the flange 7 4, under the centrifugalforce developed by the rapidly rotating cylinder, I

and this mercury will flow down and work into the'c'ells of the-cylinder 75. As the mixed water sand and gravel flows continuously through the clrcultous passageways in: dicated by the arrows and as-abovede'sc'ribed,

the gold in it Works outwardly through to the mercury filled cells 81, 113 and 7 3, and becomes'ainalgamated with it, and the amalgainfalls down from them into the mercury pockets 78, from its weight, and at the same time the mercury isworking continuously up into the cells, while the platinum and silver carbonates, the grains of lead,'zinc, iron and particles of other metals are concentrated into concentrates and flow in their watery carrying fluid out through the space-98,he-

tween the points 100, and 103, and across the space 118, at the top of the outside casing into the launder 49 and out of thespout; The gold amalgam isdrawn out of the mercurypockets/TS, from time to time through the apertures 121, of which there are three tha-t are normally closed by cap screws 122,

' see Figure 13. Thelower end of the'amalgamating cylinder 80, should he raised enough to allow the mercury to flow evenly underneath its lower end to allow the mercury to stand at a level on both sides of the lower-end of the plate, which can then be lowered back into its recess, it it is desired to 1 divide the pocket into twocompartments.

And while the mercury is poured into this pocket through the apertures 119, which-are normally closed by cap screws 120, it can be seen thatunless the lower' end of this partition is] raised the mercurycannot flow from the outside of these pockets to the inside of them. Consequently, if it is to be divided, themercury must first be allowed to flow to fill the entire width ofthe mercury holding pocket and then afterwards the plate can be lowered to divide the pocket into twocompartments, each'olf which will 001113211113 supply of mercury.

Gold, platinum and other metals will "settlein the course of time into the sand and gravel that fills the hollow shafttroin its? hub 15, up to the three water and placer sand and gravel inlet pipes 93, and once in a while this hollow'shatt can be taken out and the hub removed and the sand and gravel with its gold and platinum and metals can be removed from it and its "gold and platinum can he recovered from it'by hand panning, or it can be placed in the hopper with the infiowing placer gravel and run through the rotating cylinder. My centrifugaljamalganniting and concentrating machine will save tlietin-est gold that-exists in placer deposits, and it is 0 coustructed that the amalgam can he extracted from it without taking it apart, and the con 1 centrates it'makesnvill flow automatically from it, and its tailings can be conveyed.

lrom'it toa cyanide, or a flotation, or to a chemical, or to aroasting treatn'ient :t'ollowed by any of the above-treatments, and'in .addition it can be used to amalgamate'the gold,'. and to save and collect the fine grains of rusty gold or gold covered with a chemido not wish-to be ii'nay he i'iiadc in it without departing-from tlie'sp'irit'ofiny 1n\'-ention.'- I

claim 'asneiv cal de Sit that will not amalgamatewith mercury by concentrating it, and 1t wi ll also collect the line grains of platinum and other metals into concentrates tromores mined from fissure and other veins, which can he chine that can be shipped in small; easily portable packages or boxes, and can heeasily and quickly set up', and can be operated by steam, or electric or water or gasoline engine power, and while-I have: illustrated and-"described the preferred construction and air-- rangem'ent of the mineral'hydro-extractor, I linnted'to the construction and arrai'igement shown as many changes Having described my invention, what I i and desire-to secure byLettcrs Patent is: V a 1 1.1L centrifugal concentratoi' =and ill'l'ltllr gainator, comprising a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of annular nieij'cui' y liold ing grooves in its inner face, a circular mercury pocket at the'bottoi'ifi ot' said 'cyliiider spacedcylindrical ainalgainating units in said cylinder provided \vith mcrcury crushed to'the mesh best suited to ru n holding grooves, means for dividing the mercury po'clietinto' 'tn'j'o" annularpockets,

means fordeli've'ring pulp to theinnci'i'nost anialgamating unit, means for separating the infiowing pulp from the mercury in the mercury 'ho lding pocket *i'n'fits passage through said units and through said cyiin der, me'ans'tor periii'itting the ,discliargeflfot the concentrates from the-upper end offthe outer cylinder,means for rotating said'cyliiiders and ineansj for discharging thet'aihng.

s fromthe'b'ottoin of 1 saidfcylinder id mercury pocket having normally closed ou'tlets.

QLA centrifugal amalgamatorauditoricentrator comprising 3 an" outer rotatable cylinder hayin'g a plurality ot {annular inercury'holding grooves in its inner face, imercuryholding pocket at' the bottom or said-cylinder," a' vertical cylinderfin'ember 7 extending into said mercury pochetto divide thesame into two,compartments, said man-.1 her having a plurality 'of annular mercu' holding grooves inijts inner ta' c raising-said mei'nherto change the two com} 'partinentsnnto a single co npartn'i'e'ntg'said cylindrical memberhaving horizontal plate which"extend's lover theftop 'of said, mercury pocketand close to the inner face i of said cylinder, a double cylinder element secured to the; bottom of said outer cylinder, whose outer member extends up into the outer cylinder and is spaced from the same 'La'ndhaving its outer member extend over and .down within said adjustable member andspaced from the same, said outer member being provided in its inner face with a plurality of mercury holding grooves, its

3 ower end terminating a short distance from said horizontal plate, a cap removably secured to the top of said cylinder, a passage way being provided between the cap and the topof said double Cylinder element and be- 1 a caponthe outer cylinder,-an outlet passage I beingdefined between said cap and'cylinder;

, 1 of an adjustablering on the outer cylinder tosaid outlet passage, an annular water box ifo'r defining. an: annular concentrates outlet 'within said ring ihaving water inlets said ring having apertures connecting the water box and the said outlet passage, a tailings outletfrom said cylinders, means for supplying'material to said hollow shaft and means for rotating said shaft; V

4, The combination with a shaft, means .iforsrotating the same, spaced amalgamating and concentrating cylinders surrounding said shaft and movable therewith, means for discharging pulp into the innermost cyline der, means for discharging concentrates froin; the top of theouter cylinder, means fordischarging tailings through the inner portion'of thebottom of said cylinder, said ybottom having a mercury supply pocket ;to form a tailings outlet, a. connecting pas- V therein, and means for permitting the removal of amalgamfrom said bottom.

. 5;: In apparatus of the character described, the combination with arhollow=rotatable vertical shaft; 'of a. series of spaced concentric "vertically disposed concentrating and amalgamating cylinders mountedon said shaft, ian ad ustable ring in rthe top -of the outer cylinder which'defines a concentrates out- ,let, asleeve in the inner cylinder which surrounds said shaft and isspaced therefrom sagev being formed between said outlet and Ithe upper portion ofthe outer cylinder, ra-

l-dial" discharge pipes extending; from the s hollow shaft through said. sleeve to the interior of the inner cylinder, and means for *supplyingmaterial to the hollow shaft, said iii-aterial' being carried from cylinder to cylinder under centrifugal action.

6. In'apparatusof the character described the combination 'with a .hollow rotatable -vertical shaft ofa concentrating and amalgamating cylinder having a bottom, cap axially mounted on said shaft, a sleeve supported on said cap and surrounding said shaft but spaced therefrom, a mercury pocket surronndin .the upper portion of said sleeve a secon amalgamating'and'concentrating cylinderwithinthe first cylinder and spaced therefrom, and having a ,horizontal portion adjacent its upper end, which connects with said sleeve; a thirdcylinder Within the second cylinder and spacedtherefrom and supported on the bottom cap, ra-

dial pipes extending from the hollow shaft through said sleeve and into the innermost cylinder, an adjustable ring-like member in the top of the outer cylinder, which defines a circular concentrates outlet, an annular mercury pocket in said lOOttOHlCztlLlllQ space surrounding the shaft being connected by apassage at its upper end with the upper end of the outer cylinder, and atits lower endiwith outlets in said cap, and means for supplying material to said hollow shaft.

7.111 apparatus of the character, de-

scribed, the combinationwith a'hollow rotatable vertical shaft, a series of spaced concentric concenirating and amalgainating cylinders mounted thereon and pipes connecting said hollow shaft and the interior of the innermost cylinder, said hollow shaft being adapted to receive a continuous supply of pulp; of an adjustable cap on the upper end of the outer cylinder having a depending portion which surrounds the cylinder butis spaced therefrom, an'adjustable ring in said cap which acts in conjunction withthe rim of said cylinder to define an annular concentrates outlet, means defining a tailings outlet passage surrounding the hollow shaft and connected at its upper end with the upper portion of the outlet cylinder, and a' bottom cap for the outer cylinder having outlets connected with said tailings outlet passage. 7 .7

8. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combinationwith a' hollowrotatable vertical shaft, a bottom cap axially mounted on said shaft and-secured thereto, an outer cylinder secured to said cap, a top cap axially mounted upon and secured to'the hollow shaft and adjustablyfconnect-ed to. 'therim of said cylinder, a second cylinder spaced from the outer "cylinder having a horizontal portion near its upperend and a tube surrounding but spaced from the. shaft and connected at its upper end to-the said horizontal poi'ti.on;and at its lower end to the bottom cap, openings being provided which extend from said space through said cap; a third cylinder. adjustably.supported in the bottom cap and terminating nearthe top of the second cylinder and spaced from said cylinder, a flange on the innermost cylinder which extends below the second cylinder, to within a slightdistance of the outer cylinder a flange on the lower end of r the tube which extends to within a slight inders, of'a cap adjustably connected to the rim of the outer cylinder and having a hub ,mercury pocket, pipes connecting the in terior of the shaft and the interior of the distance of the innermost cylinder, said flanges having annular lips, pipes connecting the interior of the hollow shaft with the interior of the innermost cylinder, adjustable means defining a concentrates outlet at the top of the outer cylinder, said lower cap constituting a mercury pocket and said cylinders being provided with V mercury-receiving grooves, and said shaft being adapted to receive a continuous supply of pulp. v

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a hollow rotatable shaft and a series of spaced concentric 7 amalgamating and concentrating cylsecured on said shaft, "an adjust-able ring in said cap which acts inconjunct-ion with therim of the outer cylinder to define an annularoutlet, avertically adjustable water box interposed between. the inner face of said ring and said hub, apertures being formed in the inner wall of said box and said ring, a cap secured to the lower end of the outer cylinder having a hub. secured on said shaft, said cap constituting a innermostcylinder, means defining an outlet surrounding the shaft and connecting annular fitting into corresponding recesses in the hubs of said caps.

11; In apparatus of the character described, ahollow rotatableshaft, a cylinder axially mountedon said shaft having fu'pf j per and lower caps; the upper capgbeing inder, the lower cap having a circular mercury pocket which is semicircular in cross sect-ion, a tubular member which sure rounds the shaft but is spaced from' the same to form an outlet passage connecting with outlets in said bottom cap, said tubular portion having a horizontal" flange at its upperend from which depends a cylinder, a cylinder within and spaced from the latter cylinder, its lower end resting in an'annular groove in said mercury pocket,. means for raising said cylinder out of said groove,

adjustable means defining an annular'outlebat the top of the outer cylinder, means defining a' passage in the upper .end of-the' outer cylinder which connects with thepassage surrounding the shaft, pipes connectingthe shaft and the innermost cylinder,

said cylinders having annular mercury reg ceiving grooves.

12. In apparatus mounted on said shaft, a second cylinder, spaced from the first cylinder. and having a provided'with' a tubular portion surround-v ing said shaft but "spaced from the same to form an outlet passage which connects with outlets in the bottom of the first cylinder,

V I of the character described, a hollow shaft, a cylinder axially horizontal flange at its upper end which is r a mercury pocket surrounding thesaid tubalar portion adjacentthe horizontal flange, v

hollow bolts which extend through the top of the-outer cylinder and into holes iinthe horizontal flange, whereby, mercury is sup plied to said pocket, adjustablemeans de-' fining an annular outlet at the top of the outer cylinder, and pipes connecting the hollow shaft and the inner cylinder, said cyl-"9 I inders having mercury-receiving grooves.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

Frauen; n. LEWIS. 1

r a 55 adjustably spaced from" the rim of the 'cyl- 

